Tool for reaping asparagus and the like



June 14, 1949. c. KRELJTZER TOOL FOR REAPING? APARAGUS Am) THE LIKE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1946 June 14, 1949.

c. KREUTZER I TOOL FOR REAPING ASPARAGUS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1946 Patented June 14, 1949 .2 FFlCE 2,473,152 TOOL FOR REAPING ASPARAGUS AND THE LIKE

Casper Kreutzer, Milltown, N. 3. Application November 21, 1946, Serial No. 711,381 5 Claims. (Cl. 294-508) This invention relates to an improved hand tool for reaping asparagus and similar vegetable growths; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel manipulatable tool for such purpose whereby the reaping operations may be conveniently and rapidly carried on by the user of the tool without requiring arduous repeated stooping or bending of the users body, and, therefore, with a minimum of physical effort and a maximum of physical ease.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel hand manipulatable tool adapted in use to out through a stalk of asparagus or other vegetable growth at a point immediately below the surface of the soil from which it protrudes, while at the same time being operable to releasably grasp the stalk or growth without risk of bruising or other injury thereto, whereby the tool may be used to remove the severed stalk or growth from the soil, and for deposit in a suitable collecting receptacle.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the novel hand tool according to this invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing the actuating devices of stalk grasping means of the tool as disposed to set the latter in open condition; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing said actuating devices disposed to set the stalk grasping means in operative or closed condition.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2, showing the stalk grasping means in open condition; view, showing the stalk grasp'ng means in operative or closed condition.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 2, showing an auxiliary optionally usable gripper arm with which the tool is provided, the same being disposed in an out of service position; and Fig. 8 is a similar view showing said auxiliary gripper arm as disposed in a service position.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 9-9 in Fig. 1, showing the manipulatable handle of the stalk grasping actuating means in initial position; and Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the handle in actuated position.

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view and .Fig. .12 is rotatably supported.

then to pass the same to and and Fig. 6 is a similar is a side elevational view of a modified form of the tool of this invention, wherein the upper part of the handle shaft is broken away.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character Ill indicates the handle staff of the tool, to the lower end of which is suitably afiixed the cutting blade of the tool. Said cutting blade is formed to provide a flat steel blade body ll, so affixed to the handle staff Ill as to extend obliquely to the axis of the latter, whereby to be downwardly and forwardly inclined. The free end of the blade body Ii is indented by a V-shaped notch, the converging edges of which are sharpened to provide cutting or knife edges l l'.

Affixed to the front of the handle staff I0 adjacently above the cutting blade H, is an upwardly and outwardly inclined supporting bracket l3, to which is affiXed an outwardly open stalk receiving trough l2. The opposite sides of said stalk receiving trough l2 are indented, intermediate the trough ends, to provide clearance notches l2 for the purpose hereinafter referred to.

Affixed to the side of the handle staff It), to project laterally therefrom, adjacent to one side of said stalk receiving trough I2, is a bearing yoke l9. Journaled in and between the vertically spaced arms of said bearing yoke I9 is a perpendicular rotatable spindle l8. Aifixed to said spindie It, to turn therewith, whereby to be swung laterally toward and from the stalk receiving trough l2 in the plane of its clearance notches I2, is a gripper arm l4. Said gripper arm is provided with an arcuate mid-portion, the open side of which is adapted to oppose the open side of said stalk receiving trough l2. The inner side of said gripper arm It is provided with a facing l5 of resilient or relatively soft material, such e. g. as rubber, felt or cork, but preferably the latter. In like manner, the interior of the stalk receiving trough I2 is also provided with a lining or facing l5 of similar resilient or relatively soft material.

Manipulatable means is provided for imparting limited rotary motion to the spindle l8, whereby to swing the gripper arm l4 toward and from the stalk receiving trough l2. This means comprises a shaft 20 which is supported to extend along and parallel to the handle stafi l0 above the stalk receiving trough l2. The handle staff l0 has affixed thereto, at suitable longitudinally spaced intervals, bearing eyes 2| by which the shaft 20 At its upper end, said shaft 20 terminates in an angularly extending lever arm 22, to the free end of which is aflixed a handle member 23 by which the shaft 20 may be turned. Secured to the lower end of said shaft 20, so as to turn therewith, is a driver crank disk or wheel I6. Similarly, secured to the upper end of the spindle I8, so as to turn therewith, is a driven crank disk or wheel I6. The crank pin 24 of the driver crank disk or wheel I6 is connected to the crank pin 25 of the driven crank disk or wheel I B by a link 26. The driver crank disk or wheel I6 is provided with a stop pin 21, which, when said driver crank disk or wheel I 6 is turned in counterclockwise direction, by engagement with the link 26 limits the rotary motion of the crank disks or wheels I6 and I6 in that diretcion. Similarly, the driven crank disk or wheel I6 is provided with a stop pin 28, which, when said crank disk or wheel I6 is turned in clockwise direction, by engagement with the link 26 limits the rotary motion of the crank disks or wheels I6 and I6 in the opposite direction.

Aiiixed to the handle staff I adjacent its lower end, so as to project laterally therefrom, is a foot engageable thrust member 29.

Adjustably mounted on the lower end of the spindle I8 so as to turn therewith, is an auxiliary and optionally usable gripper jaw piece H, the use of which will be subsequently explained.

When using the tool as an asparagus reaping manipulates the meansfor actuating the gripper arm I l so as to swing the an initial open position (see Figs. 3 and more particularly). After the tool is so conditioned, the end. of the cutting blade I! is applied to the soil in close proximity to an asparagus stalk desired to be cut and removed, in such manner that the stalk will be straddled by the V-shaped cutting edges II of the blade. The tool being thus positioned, by a downward thrust upon the handle staff I E3, which may be aided by a down-forcing application of the operators foot to the thrust member 29', said cutting blade II is caused to pass obliquely downward through the soil, whereby to pass the cutting edges II through the stalk, at a point thereof adjacently below the soil surface, whereby to shear through the stalk and thus sever the same from the root section thereof. After the stalk has been thus severed, the upwardly extending exterior portion of the stalk will be engaged in and bent slightiy forward by the stalk receiving trough l2 oi the tool, whereupon the gripper arm I 4 is actuated to swing the same across the thus engaged stalk so as to grip the latter between operatively grip and hold the stalk whether the latter is thin or thick, i. e. regardless of its crosssectional or diametric size.

After the stalk is thus severed and gripped, the

item! may be manipulated to withdraw the stalk relieves the operator from the soil, and then to convey the same to a suitable collecting receptacle in which it may be dropped by swinging back and opening the gripper arm I4; the latter being so actuated by effecting a reverse or counter clockwise rotation of the shaft 20 and crank disks or wheels I6 and I6.

From the above description it will be understood that avery handy and asparagus is provided, which is easily and quickly manipulatable, and the use of which from necessity for repeated steeping, thus reducing to a minimum the physical exertion incident to the work of asparagus reaping or harvesting.

It may be desired to utilize the tool for purweed growths from To the latter end the additional gripper jaw piece IT is provided. When the'tool is used for asparagus reaping, this gripper jaw piece I I is adjusted on the spindle I8 edge may be provided with serrations or gripping teeth as shown.

If desired, the tool may be provided in a form suitable for use only as a weeder. in which case the stalk receiving trough I2 and cooperating gripper arm l4 may be removed, and the gripper jaw piece. I Iv alone provided (see Figs. 11 and 12).

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for the purposes described comprising a handle staff, acutting blade aifixed to the said crank wheels.

inner side of said gripper arm. 3. A tool for the purposes described as defined g pper arm, and v ns'm its mid-portion an outwardly bowed section for opposition to said when in an operative adjusted position, by rotary trough. movement of said spindle transversely across- 4. A tool for the purposes described as defined and in opposition to the upper portion of said in claim 1, wherein the sides of the stalk receivcutting blade.

ing trough are provided with indented clearance 5 CASPER KREUTZER. notches in the plane of said gripper arm, said gripper arm havin in its mid-portion an out- REFERENCES CITED wardly bowed section for opposition to said The f ll win referenlce are of record in the trough, a lining of cushioning material affixed me of this patent; to the interior of said trough, and a facing of 10 cushioning material covering at least the inte- UNITED STATES PATENTS rior of the bowed section of said gripper arm. Number Name Date 5. In a tool for the purposes described as de- 492,721 Garnett Feb. 28, 1893 fined in claim 1, a gripper jaw piece adjustably 772,097 Hayes Oct. 11, 1904 mounted on said spindle and adapted to be swung, 15 1,835,2 Fou stedt e 1 Dec- 19 

